Photographic camera having an electric timer device

ABSTRACT

A photographic camera having an electric timer device incorporated therein permits a power supply unit for the electric timer and a flash unit to be interchangeably mounted on the body of the camera by means of a retainer provided on the camera body. Detector means is provided for detecting the presence of the power supply unit or the flash unit retained by the retainer.

Unite States Patent 1191 Hasegawa 1 Oct. 30, .1973

[ 1 PiioToGIRAPiuc CAMERA HAVING AN 3,407,718 10/1968 Singers" 95/11 RELECTRIC TIMER DEVICE 3,437,021 4/1969 Kapteyn et a1 1 .1 95/1 1 R3,470,799 10/1969 Engclsmann 95/31 R X Inventor: G Hasegawa, y Japan3,393,620 7/1968 Reiche et a1 95 11 R [73] Assignee: Canon KabushikiKaisha, Tokyo,

Japan Primary Examine r-.1oseph F. Peters [22] Filed: Oct. 3, 1972Alt0rneyWilliam R. Woodward et al.

21 App]. No.: 294,520

301 Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Oct. 20, 19711313311.... 13 A photographic camera having an electric timer d viceincorporated therein permits a power supply unit 1 1 95/11 95/31 95/53R, for the electric timer and a flash unit to be inter- [51] Int. ClG031) 9/08, G03b 19/04 changeably mounted on the body of the camera by[58] Field of Search 95/11 R, 31 R, 31 BL, means f a retainer providedon the camera body 95/53 R tector means is provided for detecting thepresence of I the power supply unit or the flash unit retained by the[56] References Cited retainen UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,439,596 4/1969Peterson et a1. 95/11 R 7 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures SHEET 03 0F 10PAIENTEBucI 30 1975 FIG. 5

lllll II mum HH nm 2 I FIG. 6

FIG. 8

Pmtmmm 30 1925 3. 768. 387

SHEET DQUF 10 PAIENTEUHCTIBO 1973 3. 768,387

SHEET 05 0F 10 O I 4 WW 5 PATENTEDucI 30 ms SHEET 06 0F 10PATENTEDncrsoma gum gem-'10 3,768,387

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA HAVING AN ELECTRIC TIMER DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to aphotographic camera having an electric timer device, and moreparticularly to a photographic camera having a flash unit therewithin ora camera of which a flash unit can be removably mounted. v

2. Description of the Prior A With a so-called electric shutter havingan electric timer device for controlling the time during which theshutter is opened and closed, it is usually'the case that comsumption ofa power supply battery would prevent obtainment of a proper shutterspeed, thus resulting in an improper exposure. For this reason, the useof an electric shutter would not ensure the taking of a picture under anaccurate proper exposure without the operating condition of the batterybeing checked every time. If one forgets to load ones camera with abattery, the electric shutter would remain entirely inoperative and thusfail to provide a proper exposure. I

SUMMARY THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toeliminate these disadvantages existing in the prior art and to enable anelectric shutter to be converted into a mechanical shutter when thepower supply battery for the electric shutter becomes unusable or whenone forgets loading of the battery, whereby the mechanical shutter isset to a predetermined shutter speed. I

To achieve the above object, the present invention incorporates anelectric timer circuit in a camera body and enables a power supply unitfor the electric timer circuit and a flash unit to be interchangeablyand removably mounted on the camera body. When the power supply unit ismounted on the camera body, a first detector member for detecting it isdisplaced to mechanically release a rear screen retainer member which inturn is held by an electromagnet as soon asthe shutter release button ispressed. After an exposure time determined by the electric timer startedupon operation of a front screen has passed, the power supply totheelectromagnet is cut off and the rear screen is operated forautomatic photography. When the power supply unit for the electric timeris removed from the camera body, the first detector member returns toits initial position to hold the rear. screen retainer member andimmediately after the front screen operated upon shutter releaseterminates its movement, the retention of the rear screen is released toprovide a predetermined time of fully open shutter position, so that aproper F-value for such time is provided by manual adjustment toaccomplish photography.

The present invention achieves additional effects as shown below.

1. Where artificial light (especially, electronic flash) is used forphotography, a predetermined time of fully open shutter position may bemechanically provided without using the electric timer;

2. Where the electric timer cannot be used, ordinary daylightphotography can be accomplished by utilizing the predetermined time offully open shutter position mentioned in item (1) above;

3. During daylight photography, the power supply unit for the electrictimer may be removed from the camera body to make the camera lighter inweight and easier to handle; and

4. When the flash unit, instead of the power supply unit, is mounted onthe camera body, a distance adjust mechanism and aperture adjustmechanism for the objective lens are operatively associated together toenable an F-value matching the guide number of the flash unit to beautomatically selected in accordance with the object distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become fullyapparent from the following detailed description thereof taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are pictorial views of the camera according to the presentinvention, FIG. 1 showing the camera with a power supply unit mountedthereon, FIG. 2 showing the camera with the power supply unit removedtherefrom, and FIG. 3 showing the camera with a flash unit mountedthereon instead of the power supply unit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the interior mechanism of thecamera according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, in vertical section, of the shutter drivesystem of the camera; I

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views taken along lines VIVI,VII-VII and VIII-VIII of FIG. 5,

respectively;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the operation of the rear screen with theshutter charged;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and showing the front screenreleased and the rear screen retainer member held;

FIG. 11 shows a mechanism for mechanically providing a predeterminedtime of fully open shutter position, with a power supply unit mountedand the shutter charged;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but with a flash unit mountedinstead of a power supply unit;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but with the front screen releasedand the rear screen released;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the operative associationbetween a distance ring and an aperture ring;

FIG. 15 is a'view of the mechanism for operatively associating thedistance ring with the aperture ring; and

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 but with the flash unit removedfrom the camera body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, asinglelens reflex camera body C includes an interchangeable lens L, a releasebutton RB, a film advance knob Kl, a film rewind knob K2, and a findereyepiece I. In the front face of the camera body, an accessory shoe SHis provided for selectively mounting a power supply battery unit P or aflash unit When the power supply unit P is mounted on the camera C asshown in FIG. I, an electric shutter circuit contained within the cameraC becomes effective and the exposure control may be effected inaccordance with a shutter speed determined by a later-describedphotoelectric element for receiving a light beam passed through theinterchangeable lens L. When the power supply unit P is removed from thecamera C as shown 3 in FIG. 2, the electric shutter in'the cameraautomatically becomes inoperative and provides a constant speed shutterwhose speed is mechanically controlled.

When, as shown in FIG. 3, the flash unit is mounted'on the camera in theposition of FIG. 2, the electric shutter in the camera remainsinoperative and again provides aconstant speed shutter whose speed ismechanically controlled. i

The interior construction of the camera C will now be described moreparticularly with reference to FIG. 4 and so on.

When apo'wer supply unit? for the electric timer is mounted on thecamera body (see FIG. 11), electrical connection is established amongterminals T1, T2, electric timer components R, C,'A and electromagnet 80through a main switchMS. At the same time, lever 113 (a first detector)hasone end 117 thereof urged into'rotation against the force of spring118 by a wall of the power supply unit P while a pin 116 provided on theother end of the lever is brought to a position beyond the operatingrange of lever 104, and lever 109 is also rotated by pin 115 until oneend 110 thereof is brought to a position beyond the operating range oflever 73. Y

When the film advance knob l is rotated, gear 5 is rotated by means ofpins 2 and 6. This causes gear 9- meshing-with gear 5 and gears 12 and14 to be all rotated in the directions of respective arrows, which inturn causes gear 17'to be rotated by lever 16 on a disc secured totheshaft of the gear 14. The rotation of gear 17 is transmitted to gear 19,which rotates rollers 20 and 21 integral therewith and accordingly movesfront screen ribbons 29 wound on the rollers, thus winding up a frontscreen against the force of spring 31.

Concurrently therewith, a rear screen drum 23 is also rotated by meansof pin 24 received in a groove 27 formed in the front screen ribbonroller 21, thereby.

causing a rear screen wound on the drum 23 to be wound up against theforce of drive spring 35 until pawl 26 of a pawl plate rotatable withthe drum 23 is engaged with a pawled portion of lever 82, whereafter apin on the gear 17 is stopped by astop member 132 (FIG; 6). v

On the other hand, rotation of pin 11 on the intermediate gear 9 chargesa charge lever 43 against the force I of spring 54 until pin 46 on thelever 43 is engaged with pawl 42 of release lever 39, whereafter the pin11 may be shifted beyond the operating range of one end of the lever 43and stopped there.

Since the other end of the spring 54 is secured to a pin 52' lever 48,clockwise rotation of the charge lever 43 c -auses the lever 48 to berotated in the same direction, so that a pin 51 formed on'the other endof lever 48 urges a portion 78 of lever 73 until an iron piece 79attached to one end'of lever 73 is urged into 7 contact with anelectromagnet 80.

When shutter button 37 is depressed to release the shutter, the mainswitch MS is closed to energize-the electromagnet 80. Also the taperedend portion 38 of the release button 37 causes release lever 39 to berotated clockwise against the force of spring 41 and thereby disengagethe pawl 42 of lever 39 from pin 46, so that charge lever 43 is rotatedcounter-clockwise by spring 54. Thereupon, theend 55 of charge lever 43causes pin 50 to rota lever .48 counterclockwise, thus disengaging pin51 from the contact portion 78 of lever 73.

Thereafter, the'oth er end 43 of lever 43 strikes lever 16 at one end139 thereof (FIG. 6), to thereby rotate the lever 16 counter-clockwiseagainst the force of spring 140 and disengage the pawled portion 138 oflever 16 from a pin 13l 0n the front screen gear, thus permitting thefront screen to be moved with rotation of the ribbon rollers 20 and 21.Simultaneously therewith, a pin 47 on charge lever 43 is displaced todisengage switch contacts 98 and 99 from each other and start charging acapacitor C.

After a time determined by the resistance value R of thep'hotoelectricelement and capacitor C at that moment has passed, a time controlcircuit A is operated to deenergize the electromagnet 80.- As a result,the iron piece 79 is releasedfrom the electromagnet toallow lever 73 tobe rotated clockwise by spring 81. At the same time, lever 82 engagedwith pin on lever 73 is rotated in the same direction to disengage pawl85 from the pawled portion 26 of the rear screen moving pawl plate 25,so that the rear screen'w ound on the drum 23 is moved to cover thesurface of film, thus completing a picture-taking cycle.

Flash Photography With the flash unit F, instead of the power supplyunit I, being mounted on the camera body, the lever 113 (first detectormember). causes lever 109 to be rotated by the force of spring 1 18until the end 110 of the lever 109 strikes the lever 73. Thereupon, pin116 on lever 113 is positioned within the operating range of lever Onthe other hand, the flash unit F thus mounted causes a circuit to beformedv by timing terminals T3,

to displace pin 159 engaged with the otherend of lever 160, therebyrotating lever 156 also counter-clockwise to displace to the right aportion 167 of lever which is in engagement with'one end 158 of lever156. As a result, the lever 165 is rotated clockwise to cause the arm]181 of ring to rotate cam ring 175, thus providing an F-value matchingthe distance determined by the distance adjust ring 169.

' The camming surface 177 of cam ring 175 is engaged by a pin 184 onbell crank lever 182. The intermediate lever 195 is restrained frommovement with the underside of the arm 197 thereof engaged with unshownshutter operating lever of the camera body.

When the shutter button 37 is depressed to release the shutter, the mainswitch MS is first closed but no current flows to the electromagnet 80and the iron piece 79 is not attracted, because the power supply unit Pis not mounted on the camera body.

As the shutter operating lever is operated with the depression of theshutter button 37, a windmill ring 186 operatively associated therewithvia intermediate lever 195, projection 196 and arm'189 is rotated by theforce ofspring 190 until the arm 18,7 of ring 186 strikes the end ofbell crank ring 182. Thereupon, a shutter blade 191 having a pin 192received in an aperture 188 formed in the windmill ring 186 is rotatedto provide a predetennined F-value. The position of the camming surface177 of cam ring 175 may be adjusted also by a preset ring 172.

- Thereafter, as the front screen moving gear 17 is rotated with therelease of the frontscreen release lever 16, pin 51 urging a portion 78of lever 73 is disengaged from pin 51, but the lever 73 is not allowedto rotate because it is restrained by the end 110 of lever 109.

immediately before the movement of the front screen is terminated, pin131 strikes one end 102 of lever 101 to rotate this lever, which closesswitch contacts 107 and 108 to cause flashing of the flash unit. Also, aportion 105 of lever 104 and pin l16 cooperate together to rotate levers113 and 109 against the force of spring allow movement of the rearscreen.,lmmediately before the movement of the rear screen isterminated, the end 121 of lever 119 is struck to open switch contacts123 and 124, thus completing a series of operations.

In the foregoing case, by forming a stepped portion 200 in the wallsurface of the flash unit F to be mounted on the camera body and bymaking the dimensions of the stepped portion correspond to the guidenumber, it is possible to provide a proper F-value in accordance withthe object distance.

Daylight Photography Using No Electric Timer When the flash unitisremoved from the camera body, the lever 151 (second detector member) isrotated by the force of spring 155 to thereby displace the center ofrotation .of lever 156 pivotally mounted on lever 151, so that levers167 and 158 may not be engaged with each other inany position of thedistance adjust ring 169. On the other hand, a predetermined time offully open shutter position is provided as described previously when thepower supply unit P is not mounted on the camera body, and thereforedaylight photography can be accomplished by using the preset ring 172 toset an F-value matching the predetermined time.

Bulb Photography I By converting the change-over disc 95 to the bulbphotography mode, it is set so that the recessed camming surface 97 ofthe disc 95 maybe engaged by one end 93 of lever 89 and at the sametime, the switch in the power supply circuit is opened.

When the shutter button 37 is depressed with the disc 95 converted tothe bulb photography mode, lever 56 is rotated clockwise against theforce of spring 59 to disengage the end 58 of lever 56 from pin 62. Thispermits levers 60 and 64 to be rotated by the force of spring 68 toengage pawl67 with a tooth of gear to thereby inhibit film advanceduring depression of the shutter button 37, while pin 62is moved topermit lever 89 to be rotated counter-clockwise by the force of spring94 and thus, the lever89 is received into the recessed camming surface97 of the change-over disc 95. As a result, the pawled portion 95 ismoved into engagement with the pawl 53 of lever 48. In addition to thedescribed operation, the depression of the shutter button 37 releasesthe engagement between the pawl 42 of release lever 39 and pin 46.Therefore, lever 43 is rotated counter-clockwise by the force of spring54 so that the end 43' thereof rotates lever 16 to disengage pawl 138from pin 131, thus starting the front screen. One end 55 of lever 43tends to actuate to rotate the pin 50 on the lever 48, whereas suchtendency is prevented by the engagement between the pawl 53 of lever 48and the pawl 92 of lever 89 and accordingly, levers 78 and 82 are notactuated with the pawl 85 oflever 82 maintained in engagement with thepawl 26 of the rear. screen moving pawl plate 25, thus maintaining therear screen unactuated.

When the depression of the shutter button 37 is now stopped, lever 56 isrotated counter-clockwise to its initial position by the force of spring59 to thereby cause pin 62 to rotate lever 89 clockwise and disengagepawl 92 from pawl 53, thus permitting slight counterclockwise rotationof lever 48 until the pin 51 thereon is disengaged from a portion 78oflever 73. Thereupon, levers 73 and 82 are rotated clockwise by theforce of spring 81 to disengage the pawl 85 of lever 82 from the pawl 26of .pawl plate 25, thus starting the rear screen to complete anexposure.

According to the present invention, as has been described'above, anelectric timer circuit is incorporated in the camera body and a powersupply unit therefor and a flash unit may be interchangeably mounted onthe camera body. Therefore, automatic photography using the electrictimer can be accomplished when the power supply unit is mounted on thecamera body.

When the power supply unit is removed from the camera body, the firstdetector member retains the rear screen retainer member and suchretentionof the rearv screen is released immediately before thetermination of the. front screen movement in response to such movement,thereby mechanically providing a predetermined time of fully openshutter position without using the electric shutter. Therefore, ordinarydaylight photography can be achieved by manually adjusting and setting aproper F-value for such fully open shutter time.

Also, when the power supply unit is removed and the flash unit ismounted on the camera body, the second detector member establishes anoperative association between the distance adjust mechanism and theaperture adjust mechanism to permit an F-value matching the guide numberof the flash unit to be automatically selected in accordance with thedistance adjustment, thus automating the flash photography. Furthermore,the power supply unit for the electric timer is unused and removedduring flash photography, and this contributes to a lighter weight ofthe camera body andto a greater ease with which the camera body ishandled.

I claim: 1

l. A photographic camera having an electric shutter comprising:

a shutter;

a housing for the camera;

a power supply unit mounted on a portion of said housing;

power supply unit retainer means provided on a side wall of said housingfor mounting said power supply unit;

first detector means for detecting the casing'of said power supply unitretained by said retainer means; shutter opening means;

shutter closing means engageable with said detector means for startingthe closing operation of the shutter;

electromagnet means operatively associated with said shutter closingmeans;

an electronic timer circuit having the output thereof connected withsaid electromagnet means for electrically effecting a time-countingoperation and changing over the operation of said electromagnet means,in accordance with theoutput at the end of said time-counting operation;

said detector means having an engaging member movable into engagementand disengagement with 7 said shutter opening means, said shutterclosing means being released in response to said engaging member; saidengaging member being displaced into disengaged position by saiddetector member when said power supplyunit is mounted on said camerahousing, and displaced into engaged position when said power supply unitis removed from said camera housing. 2. A photographic camera accordingto claim 1,

wherein said camera housing includes a flxed shoe receiving means formounting said power supply unit, said shoe receiving means beingengageable with a shoe provided on said power supply unit.

3, A photographic camera according to claim 1, wherein said camerahousing includes a side wall having retainer means carrying anelectrode, and said power supply unit comprises a casing, a power supplybattery contained in said casing, a second engaging member formed on oneside wall of said casing and engageable with said retainer means, and anelectrode led out to the surface of said second engaging member, saidpower supply unit being held by said retainer means of the camera withthe aid of said second engagber into disengaged position.

5. .A photographic camera having an electric shutter comprising:

a shutter; a housing for. the camera a power supply unit mounted on aportion of said housing; v

power supply unit retainer means provided on a side' means for startingthe closing operation of the shutter; electromagnet means operativelyassociated with said shutter closing means; an electronic timer circuithaving the output thereof connected with said electromagnet meansfor-electrically effecting a time-counting operation; said detectormeans having an engaging member movable into engagement anddisengagement with said shutter opening means, said shutter closing-means being released in response to said engaging a member; saidengaging member being displaced into disengaged position by saiddetector member when said power supply unit is mounted on said camerahousing, and displaced into engaged position when said power supply unitis removed from said camera housing; second retainer means for retaininga flash unit on said camera housing; second detector means providedcontiguously with saidseeond retainer means and displaceable inengagement with the casing of said flash unit; aperture stop means; I I,distance adjust means for the objective lens of said camera; means forcontrolling said aperture stop means by said distance adjust means, andchangeover means controlled by said second detector means for enablingoperation of said aperture stop control means when said flash unit isretained on said camera housing. 6. A photographic camera according toclaim 5, wherein said first and second retainer means are common. I

7. A photographic camera according to claim 6, wherein said secondretainer means comprises a flash timing contact electrode.

1. A photographic camera having an eleCtric shutter comprising: ashutter; a housing for the camera; a power supply unit mounted on aportion of said housing; power supply unit retainer means provided on aside wall of said housing for mounting said power supply unit; firstdetector means for detecting the casing of said power supply unitretained by said retainer means; shutter opening means; shutter closingmeans engageable with said detector means for starting the closingoperation of the shutter; electromagnet means operatively associatedwith said shutter closing means; an electronic timer circuit having theoutput thereof connected with said electromagnet means for electricallyeffecting a time-counting operation and changing over the operation ofsaid electromagnet means in accordance with the output at the end ofsaid time-counting operation; said detector means having an engagingmember movable into engagement and disengagement with said shutteropening means, said shutter closing means being released in response tosaid engaging member; said engaging member being displaced intodisengaged position by said detector member when said power supply unitis mounted on said camera housing, and displaced into engaged positionwhen said power supply unit is removed from said camera housing.
 2. Aphotographic camera according to claim 1, wherein said camera housingincludes a fixed shoe receiving means for mounting said power supplyunit, said shoe receiving means being engageable with a shoe provided onsaid power supply unit.
 3. A photographic camera according to claim 1,wherein said camera housing includes a side wall having retainer meanscarrying an electrode, and said power supply unit comprises a casing, apower supply battery contained in said casing, a second engaging memberformed on one side wall of said casing and engageable with said retainermeans, and an electrode led out to the surface of said second engagingmember, said power supply unit being held by said retainer means of thecamera with the aid of said second engaging member and supplying acurrent to the camera through said electrode.
 4. A photographic cameraaccording to claim 3, wherein said detector means includes a detectormember operatively associated with said second engaging member, saiddetector member being projectedly formed on the surface of said retainermeans, said detector member being adapted to be displaced intoengagement with the surface of said power supply unit casing when saidpower supply unit is mounted on said camera, thereby displacing saidsecond engaging member into disengaged position.
 5. A photographiccamera having an electric shutter comprising: a shutter; a housing forthe camera; a power supply unit mounted on a portion of said housing;power supply unit retainer means provided on a side wall of said housingfor mounting said power supply unit; first detector means for detectingthe casing of said power supply unit retained by said retainer means;shutter opening means; shutter closing means engageable with saiddetector means for starting the closing operation of the shutter;electromagnet means operatively associated with said shutter closingmeans; an electronic timer circuit having the output thereof connectedwith said electromagnet means for electrically effecting a time-countingoperation; said detector means having an engaging member movable intoengagement and disengagement with said shutter opening means, saidshutter closing means being released in response to said engagingmember; said engaging member being displaced into disengaged position bysaid detector member when said power supply unit is mounted on saidcamera housing, and displaced into engaged position when said powersupply unit is removed from said camera housing; second retainer meansfor retaining a flash unit on said camera housing; second detector meansprovided contiguously with said second retainer means and diSplaceablein engagement with the casing of said flash unit; aperture stop means;distance adjust means for the objective lens of said camera; means forcontrolling said aperture stop means by said distance adjust means, andchangeover means controlled by said second detector means for enablingoperation of said aperture stop control means when said flash unit isretained on said camera housing.
 6. A photographic camera according toclaim 5, wherein said first and second retainer means are common.
 7. Aphotographic camera according to claim 6, wherein said second retainermeans comprises a flash timing contact electrode.